Realtors indulge in digging bore wells, Jal Shakti Department foils attempt

The Himachal Pradesh Ground Water Authority will soon tighten the noose on unauthorised users of ground water in the Kumarhatti and Kheel Jasli area where several realtors have reportedly dug unauthorised bore wells.

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One such bore being dug up adjacent to an under-construction five-storey building on Kheel Ka Mor at Koro village was stopped recently following the timely intervention of the officials of the Jal Shakti Department (JSD).

The action followed a complaint made to the HP Ground Water Authority by an advocate Pryankar Bhardwaj, who noted that several such unauthorised bores have been dug by realtors in violation of the norms in the said area. A report has been sought by the authority from the field staff for further action.

“Though as per a high court order a commercial project is supposed to seek a no objection certificate from the Town and Country Planning Department for such a bore, the norm was allegedly observed in the breach,” observed the advocate.

The Koro Kaithri area near Kumarhatti has seen hectic commercial activity in the last about two decades. The high court has also taken note of multi-storey buildings which have sprung up in a six-km radius in the area as it lies outside the planning area.

At least 30 commercial bore wells have been dug up in violation of the norms in the area by the realtors, who have erected eight to nine storey buildings, according to an estimate. Each floor has several flats, a majority of which have been sold to non-Himachalis. Being in the close proximity, such bores not only affect the ground water but no royalty is paid to the state government as these are not registered with the authority concerned. They also defy the minimum distance norm supposed to be followed between two such bores.

“The villagers are initially lured to permit digging up of such bores on the promise of providing water but later the realtors backtrack on such promise. Several water related disputes have been coming to fore in areas around Kasauli, Sanawar, Kumarhatti, etc,” observed a villager.

“After receipt of a complaint, the HP Groundwater Authority has begun verification of all such realty project in the area,” said Sumit Sood, Member Secretary, HP Ground Water Authority, Shimla.

With declining water availability in the area owing to scanty rains, local residents had to spend on buying water in the peak summers.

There is an urgent need to regulate these unauthorised bores in the area by the Jal Shakti Department as their unchecked operations affect the ground water level.